Polyarthritis

About polyarthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints, which in turn leads to symptoms such as pain, swelling, deformation of the joints and difficulty in movement. In this disease, the cartilage, bones and ligaments deteriorate, and the result is that visible deformations appear in the patient. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most frequent joint disorder, being a chronic inflammatory disease. Women are 2-3 times more affected than men. The disease can begin at any age, more frequently in the 4-5 decades of life. Current statistics approximate that over 200,000 Romanians suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, the most common inflammatory rheumatic disease that can lead to a reduction in life expectancy by up to 10 years. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of inflammatory polyarthritis, which can lead to joint destruction, deformations and loss of joint function. The swelling of the small joints, especially those of the hands and feet, is characteristic of the disease (or its distinctive sign), but we must remember that most of the joints in the body can be affected by the disease. That is why it is also called rheumatoid polyarthritis. Besides the joints, other manifestations of the disease can be observed, such as: subcutaneous nodules, inflammation in the eyes, the decrease in the number of white blood cells (also called leukocytes) in the blood and diseases of the lungs. Rheumatoid polyarthritis can sometimes affect other organs, such as the skin, eyes, lungs and blood vessels. Today, there is more and more research that mentions that people with rheumatoid arthritis show specific changes in the microbiome in the oral and intestinal environment

Cause

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known. It can be said that, similarly to other autoimmune diseases, its etiology is unknown. Even so, certain factors seem to play a role in increasing the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis or are factors that trigger the onset of the disease. Microbial species can control the onset and evolution of rheumatoid arthritis. Two recent studies led by Dr. Veena Taneja from the Department of Immunology and Division of Rheumatology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester (USA) shed light on the role of the gut microbiome in people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and propose an alternative therapeutic approach to the disease with the help of changes the microbiome. The first work, published in Genome Medicine, found that the intestinal microbiome of patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed an important decrease in diversity with the progression of the disease and the increase in the level of autoantibodies, compared to the control group (15 first-degree relatives of the patients and 17 healthy people from the control group). Gut microbiome dysbiosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis derived from an expansion of rare microbial species, such as Eggerthella and Collinsella, and from a decrease in the number of beneficial species, such as Faecalibacterium. Thus, a profile of the intestinal microbiome of patients with rheumatoid arthritis was identified based on the three microbial species: Collinsella, Eggerthella and Faecalibacterium. Analysis of microbial metabolites and their association with specific taxonomy were investigated to identify a potential mechanistic link. The metabolic profile was associated with the intestinal microbiome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, finding the abundance of the Collinsella species correlated with a high level of three metabolites: beta-alanine, alpha-aminoadipic acid and asparagine. Collinsella seems to have an essential role in modifying intestinal permeability and the severity of the disease, as confirmed in experiments. “After further research in mice and eventually in humans, researchers could create a predictive profile regarding the likelihood of developing rheumatoid arthritis and the course the disease may take,” says Dr. Taneja. The second paper, published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, explored the commensal role of intestinal derivatives in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in a humanized mouse model. The results suggested that the bacterium Prevotella histicola could be explored as a new remedy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, with reduced side effects.

Avert

To prevent this disease, it is necessary to know the factors that increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis and to try to raise them The factors that can trigger the onset of rheumatoid arthritis are: exposure to certain types of bacteria, such as those associated with periodontal disease; in other words, certain infectious agents can be factors favoring the disease – a possible involvement of Proteus mirabilis, Mycoplasma, Porphyromonas gingivalis, but a direct causal link could not be proven; when you have a medical history of viral infections, such as Epstein-Barr virus infection, which causes mononucleosis; trauma or wounds/injuries, such as broken bones or bone fractures, dislocation of a joint and damage to ligaments; environmental factors – smoking is considered the most important risk factor; the association of rheumatoid arthritis with smoking is directly proportional to the number of packs of cigarettes smoked and the years the patient smoked. Smokers seem to have a more aggressive form of rheumatoid arthritis, with increased titers of anti-CCP antibodies (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies) and with a weaker response to treatment; obesity; hormonal factors – rheumatoid arthritis affects women more frequently, men with this disease often have lower than average testosterone levels;

Analysis

Rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages because the early signs and symptoms are similar to those of other diseases. There is no blood test or physical finding to confirm the diagnosis. That is precisely why the specialist doctor you go to will use several “tools” to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. The anamnesis means that the doctor gathers all the data, interrogating the patient about the occurrence and evolution of the disease he is suffering from. First of all, the doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and your medical history. He will also consult you and examine your joints. This means that the doctor will look for areas with redness and areas with swelling, test your reflexes and test your muscle strength. At the same time, he will touch the affected joints to check if they are warm and if they are sensitive to the touch. If the doctor suspects that it is rheumatoid arthritis, he will most likely recommend or send you to another specialist, i.e. a rheumatologist. Imaging analyzes for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis Your doctor can recommend a series of imaging investigations, which will be helpful in diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis. The doctor can recommend x-rays, because it helps him follow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis in your joints, over time. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), also known as nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMR), and tests that use ultrasound can help your doctor judge the severity of the disease present in your body. Blood tests for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis Blood tests can help in the diagnostic stage. People with rheumatoid arthritis often have an increased rate or speed of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or a C-reactive protein (CRP) value, and these tests can indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the patient’s body. Other blood tests used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis are those that look for the presence of the rheumatoid factor and the presence of anti-CCP antibodies (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies).

Allopathic treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis cannot be completely cured by allopathic medicine, and the treatment is done in order to improve the symptoms and to slow down the evolution. Rheumatoid polyarthritis acts differently in different people; therefore, the treatment options are personalized for the patient and have the role of relieving pain, reducing inflammation, slowing down or stopping joint damage. People with significant joint damage may require surgery to restore function. Drug and biological treatment for rheumatoid arthritis The types of drugs recommended by the specialist doctor will depend on the severity of your symptoms and how long you have suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. Here is what drug treatment can be helpful in rheumatoid arthritis: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – these anti-inflammatory drugs can calm pain and reduce inflammation; those that are available without a medical prescription include ibuprofen and naproxen. Some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are available by prescription. steroid medications – drug treatment with corticosteroids, such as prednisone, reduce inflammation and pain and slow the deterioration of joints. But these drugs, like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can have side effects. Doctors often prescribe corticosteroids to relieve acute symptoms. disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) – these drugs can slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and can save joints and other tissues, preventing them from being permanently damaged. The doctor can also use some biological agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Also known as “biological response modifiers”, this new class of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs includes many variants. These drugs can target parts of the immune system that trigger the inflammation that causes tissue and joint damage. These types of drugs, however, increase the risk of infections.

Natural treatment

There are many plants and remedies from them that have benefits in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. New alternative therapeutic options in rheumatoid arthritis In children, the most common form of chronic arthritis is called juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and recent evidence suggests that the microbiome may influence this disease. However, the specialists say that additional research is needed regarding the mechanisms through which the intestinal microbiome could contribute to inflammation and the activity of the immune function. The conclusion of these studies is that there is a correlation between the changes in the intestinal microbiome and the clinical disease of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and a study led by Dr. Simon Milling from the Center of Immunobiology at the University of Glasgow (Great Britain) explains that until now , the administration of probiotics and the modification of the intestinal microbiome through diet had, however, a limited success in improving the condition of patients and a small effect on systemic inflammation. Therefore, the intestinal dysbiosis of patients with rheumatoid arthritis may result from the increased abundance of certain rare bacterial species. The improvement of rheumatoid arthritis through the manipulation of the intestinal microbiome represents a new field of research, which could offer additional therapeutic options for people suffering from this condition. The proposed naturopathic treatment can be followed in parallel with the allopathic medication established by the attending physician. Imuniplant tea 30 daily doses Artropol 30 doses These two remedies act as immunomodulators of the microbiome.